NHTSA Complaint #10036748 — 1993 ISUZU RODEO

MY ENGINE JUST "DIED" IN AUGUST 2000. BEST CHEVROLET AND ISUZU IN HINGHAM MA SAID THAT I NEEDED A NEW OR REBUILT ENGINE. I HAVE TAKEN EXTREMELY GOOD CARE OF THIS VEHICLE SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW IN 1993. I DID NOT WANT A REBUILT AND VERY NICELY, BUT FIRMLY, ASKED THAT THEY COVER IT AND GIVE ME A BRAND NEW ENGINE, TO WHICH ISUZU CORP. AND THE DEALER AGREED IF I PAID FOR THE LABOR COSTS OF INSTALLING IT. I THOUGHT THIS SOUNDED FAIR AT THE TIME, SO I AGREED. I HAVE RECENTLY LEARNED THAT A RECALL WAS ISSUED IN JULY 1994 AND I WAS NEVER INFORMED BY ISUZU CORPORATION OR THE DEALER! I COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM OF "WHITE SMOKE" BLOWING OUT THE EXHAUST ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS OVER THE YEARS AND HAVE IT IN WRITING (FOR THE MECHANICS TO INVESTIGATE) ON ALL MY RECEIPTS. THIS PROBLEM WAS NEVER FIXED, YET THEY KEPT CHARGING ME FOR "LOOKING INTO IT" -- A $100. HERE, $200. THERE. I ALSO ASKED THEM TO SAVE THE OLD ENGINE AFTER THE BRAND NEW ONE WAS INSTALLED AND THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO THAT AS THEY HAD TO "TURN IT IN." (I'VE SINCE LEARNED THIS VIOLATES MASS. LAW) AT THE TIME, I TOLD HIM THAT DOESN'T MAKE SINCE. WHY WOULD THEY HAVE TO TURN IN AN OLD, NON WORKING ENGINE TO GET A NEW ONE?!? MY BROTHER, ADAM HOOVER, WAS A WITNESS TO THIS CONVERSATION. ALSO, SINCE THEN, I'VE LEARNED THAT WHEN A REBUILT ENGINE IS PURCHASED, THE DEALER TURNS IN THE OLD ONE FOR THE "CORE." I PAID OVER $3500. SUPPOSEDLY FOR LABOR COSTS! I WAS BLATANTLY RIPPED OFF AND I WANT TO GET MY MONEY BACK. THIS VEHICLE STILL BLOWS WHITE SMOKE AND I FEEL IT'S A TICKING TIME BOMB WAITING TO GO OFF! I'M AFRAID THE ENGINE IS GOING TO BLOW AGAIN. THANKS.